Apple should just post the training videos online for anyone to use. (1) DIY repairs, (2) train for a new career as a "Genius", (3) fun new game 'Are you smarter than an Apple "Genius"?'.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Retail Ends Genius Training in Cupertino, Moves to In-Store Web Seminars
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Video training is the least effective method of delivery, if you want long-term skill retention.
Companies like it because it is cheap to make - problem is people rarely learn.
Honestly, this does make sense seeing the direction they are going with their hardware. Most parts are soldered in now and the amount of unibody MacBook Pros in the wild are depleting. A lot of the hardware repairs are going directly to depot now, so the role of Genius has changed quite drastically, so I think this change in training is simply accommodating the new climate. Software troubleshooting can absolutely be done in a long distance training environment. (Former Genius, started with Apple in 2008. Now supporting Apple devices in Enterprise) Not to mention the average cost to send an employee for training is $7,000. What other company invests that kinda money into training for someone they are only paying $15 - 18 an hour? And who do you think is performing these trainings? Geniuses and Lead Geniuses sent to Cupertino/Austin/Atlanta for couple month long rotations. Do you know how much it costs to put someone up in a hotel for 2 - 3 months? And per diems. It makes perfect sense.
Yup, been through both types many times and you rarely retain information from web based video training. Even web based training with a trainer whom you can question still isn't the same.
It's just makes the retail store a more retail store. This is bad in my opinion. But great for the shareholders.
Next time I apply for a job as a Genius, I'll just tell them I already watch all the videos from iFixit. That will save them extra more dollars of me watching more videos.
To be fair just because you've learned to do something that's not hard to do doesn't mean you should have to do it. The story says "Apple is allegedly providing "virtual take aparts" only now, with no physical hardware." that means they are watching the equivalent of YouTube videos, if that's the case what sets the Apple Geniuses' apart from anyone with a web-browser?
Thank you Tim.. for taking out the spirit of Apple from Apple, bit by bit. Soon, you will be no different than Macy's or JCPenny.
Obviously.
I made a point of rewatching each video with the machine it was focused on in front of me and went step by step with the videos.
I had the advantage of being paid those days to JUST train at my own pace.
Oh, more penny pinching from Tim Cooks Apple, surprising. /s
Who is making the claim (other than some random source in the article) that Apple stores aren't going to have machines on hand to train on? I don't understand why anyone would just assume that would be the case.
You don't need to train a Genius if eventually they won't have Macs to repair...
what? no.
it was "swap it out" system for years (with iPhones, iPods, etc, NO computers AFAIK) and just recently Apple started doing in-store repairs.
I have never seen replacing hands on training with video webinars be better. But Apple must be hurting for cash, right?
Would it be "greener" to send one person out to train, or to send every computer out for repair?
One more example of what's hurting jobs in the US, technology. The impact will be felt in Cupertino economy and ripple out from there. Think if every tech company follows, and they are to varying degrees, the negative economic ramifications. The end of day, all about cost!
Just wait. The new iPhone (8) will probably be un-repairable. With my time at Apple I learned things like this always are part of a larger plan. This isn't just a quick money saving move, its part of a plan. The AppleCare (or now called Genius training) was more complex than a online guide. I am guessing it has gotten dumbed down some. The service source doc will just say:
Does iPhone work?
Yes - Great! It is the idiot customer. Educate them.
No - Replace with service part #XXX-XXXX
Yeah, you won't need to know how to install memory anymore...
Webex OVER!
Well Macrumors are running the story without a named source but what do you want? it's a rumors site not the official Apple PR mouthpiece funnel. If people in the know dispute it I'm sure Macrumors will do an edit and amend the story.
Funny because cluster and navigational nightmare both describe GSX fairly well too.
Yet another example of Apple's transition from a product-focused company to one led by bean counters, focused solely on the bottom line and the next quarterly report.
Last edited:
Culture is everything. Cook's bean counter antics are even seeping through what makes Apple great: the people and customer service who believe in what they do and are trained accordingly. web -based instruction is another cost-cutting measure that hurts Apple as a whole to raise their bottom line.
Last edited:
In many small ways, Apple is wandering from what made it an amazing company. You may be able to cheaply train employees with an online course but you certainly can't replace the morale and positive attitude gained from the in person experience.
Why not have the customer watch the web videos themselves and have us fix it ourselves. More money saved for shareholders.